Skip to main content
The pattern view allows you to edit the song’s patterns, which form the foundation of your composition in Furnace. Pattern View

​
Pattern Structure

A pattern consists of columns (“channels”) and numbered rows. Each column has several subcolumns in this order:
  1. Note - The musical note to play
  2. Instrument - Which instrument to use
  3. Volume - The volume level
  4. Effects - Split into effect type and effect value
All columns are represented in hexadecimal, except for the note column. Row highlights show beats and measures, and are configured in the Speed window.

​
Cursor and Selection

You may change the cursor position by clicking anywhere on the pattern. To select an area:
  • Press and hold the left mouse button
  • Drag the mouse
  • Release the button to finish selection
Right-clicking within the pattern view brings up a pop-up menu with most options from the edit menu.

​
Channel Bar

Using the channel bar, you may adjust several aspects of the channel display. Channel Bar

​
Channel Controls

  • Clicking on a channel name mutes that channel
  • Double-clicking or right-clicking enables solo mode, in which only that channel will be audible

​
View Modes

Clicking the ++ at the top left corner of the pattern view pops up a small menu to set view modes:
Displays extra options for collapsing channels and adding/removing effect columns:
  • -: Collapse visible columns. Changes to + when columns are hidden; click to expand them
  • <: Disables the last effect column and hides it. Effects are not deleted
  • >: Adds an effect column. If one previously existed, its contents will be preserved
Displays pattern names (per channel). Pattern names are also visible when hovering over a pattern in the order list.
Display indicators when channels are paired in some way (e.g. OPL3 4-op mode).
During playback, show visual effects in the pattern view. Can also be toggled by right-clicking on the ++ button.
Displays icons that indicate activity in the channel. See the “Channel Status” section below.
To rename and/or hide channels, open the Channels window via the window menu.

​
Channel Status

Channel status icons provide visual feedback about what’s happening in each channel:

​
Note Status

  • Note off Note off
  • Note on Note on
  • Macro released Note on but macro released (REL)
  • Note released Note released (===)

​
Pitch Alteration

  • No effect Nothing
  • Pitch up Pitch slide up
  • Pitch down Pitch slide down
  • Portamento Portamento
  • Arpeggio Arpeggio

​
Volume Alteration

  • No effect Nothing
  • Volume up Volume slide up
  • Volume down Volume slide down
  • Tremolo Tremolo
Other icons may be present depending on the used chips.

​
Special Note Values

Furnace supports several special note commands:
  • Note off (OFF) - Turns off the last played note in that channel (key off for FM/hardware envelope; note cut otherwise)
  • Note release (===) - Triggers macro release (and in FM/hardware envelope channels it also triggers key off)
  • Macro release (REL) - Releases macros but does not trigger key off in FM/hardware envelope channels

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us